Healed by Fire by Catherine Banks Page A

rolled my eyes. “You couldn’t take me even
before I gained more power.”
    Every eye, including Victor’s bat ones,
turned to me. Achilles asked, “Gained more power? What do you
mean?”
    I waved at them dismissively. “I’ll show you
when we get to your ‘base camp’.”
    The men grumbled their agreements and we
flew out of the Lair and out into the night. I reveled in my
ability to fly again and somersaulted and spun in the air in a
crazy dance of freedom.
    “Been a while since you’ve last flown,
Artemis?” asked Achilles.
    I giggled happily and nodded my head. “Much
too long. I was pretending to be human so I couldn’t risk outing
myself just to enjoy some flight time. I’d forgotten how wonderful
the wind feels under my wings.” I flipped onto my back and dove
down and then back up again.
    Theseus and Koda were discussing something
with serious looks on their faces so I flew over to be nosy.
“What’s up?”
    Koda asked, “Did you recognize the Sidhe who
brought the vampires to attack you?”
    I frowned. “He seemed familiar, like we were
connected somehow, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen his face
before.” I scoured my regained memories and shook my head. “No,
I’ve never met him before. Why? Do you know him?”
    Koda exhaled. “I might. We’ll discuss it
further at camp.”
    I flew over to Achilles and Ares and stayed
by their sides the rest of the way.
    “Where are we?” I asked as we dropped onto a
beach where a large stone house sat alone.
    “Ireland,” answered Ares.
    I grabbed Ares’ hand and then Achilles’.
Ares called, “Come out.”
    I watched in shock as over a hundred men and
women walked out of the house to stand before us on the beach. All
eyes trained on me and my instant reaction was to cower, but then I
remembered who I was and straightened my spine, meeting all of
their eyes. I expected some people to avert their gazes or meet
mine defiantly. I did not expect them to all drop to one knee and
bow their heads.
     
     
    ~~~
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    I looked at Ares and Achilles in shock.
“What’s going on?”
    Ares and Achilles stepped away from me and
walked towards the group. Achilles said, “We all knew this day was
going to come. You’ve all been training hard and so, tonight we
celebrate.”
    Ares took over. “We will celebrate the
return of my mate. We will celebrate the return of the prophesized
one. We will celebrate our impending victory.”
    The group cheered, but continued to keep
their heads bowed in submission. What the hell is going
on?
    Ares turned to me. “We found a way to create
an army to combat the vampires. An army which is stronger, more
powerful and has fewer weaknesses.”
    Achilles said, “We have been training them
hard in preparation for your return. I hope they are to your
liking.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?” I
asked in shock. “What are they? Who are they? What do you mean you
created them?” I looked from Ares to Achilles and then at the
group.
    Theseus stood up from amongst the group and
said, “We are mixed breeds, like you, though not nearly as powerful
as you, Princess.”
    “Mixed breeds?” I walked to the group and
inhaled their scents. “Oh, wow. Whoa.” They were all half wolf and
half Sidhe. “How did you create them?”
    Ares smirked. “You see, Artemis. When a man
and woman lie together…”
    I stared at him in shock and horror.
“They’re your…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I knew that I was
gone a long time, but this was too much for me. I turned away from
Ares and started walking down the beach, but Victor stepped into my
path and shook his head with a smile on his lips. “You
misunderstand, mon papillon . These are not Ares and
Achilles’ children.”
    I looked at him in shock. “But he just
said…”
    Victor silenced me with a glare. “Would I
lie to you?”
    A smile teased the corner of my lips. “You
want me to answer that honestly?”
    Victor laughed. “I am